Lunch kit



Aug. 19, 1947. T. slLvA LUNCH KIT Filed Dec. 5, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1ma. m. bo

MW M Aug. 19, 1947. T. slLvA LUNCH KIT Filed Dec. 5, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet2 Inventor Thomas 3//4/0 ?atenied Aug. iQ, 1947 NETE@ STATES PATENTOFFICE LUNCH KIT Thomas Silva, Honolulu, Territory of HawaiiApplicationDecember 5, 1944, Serial No. 566,711

(Cl. 20E-4) 1 Claim. l

This invention relates to an improved lunch kit which is particularlyuseful to workmen, and in which a plurality of removable containers areprovided which are constructed to pnvent the transmission of heat orcold from their contents and to thereby properly conserve the separatedfoods.

An important object oi the present invention is to provide a lunch kitfor properly conserving and transporting separated foods, utensils, andthe like, the construction being comparatively simple and durable andproviding for ready access to the food containers and the utensils.

The present invention consists in the novel form, combination andarrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described. shown in theaccompanying drawings, and claimed.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicatecorresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure l is a view, partly in front elevation and partly broken away andin vertical section, of a lunch kit constructed in accordance with thepresent invention.

Figure 2 is a horizontal section taken on line 2-2 of Figure l, with thecovers of the food containers removed.

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section taken substantially on line3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view more clearly showingdetails of the means for locking the container covers in place as shownin Figure 3, and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary top plan view of the lunch kit with the lid inopen position.

Referring in detail to the drawings, the present lunch kit includes abox embodying a rectangular body portion 5 and a hollow relatively deeplid 6 hinged along one longitudinal edge to the body, as at 1, andprovided along the other longitudinal edge with a plurality of fasteners8 for releasably holding the lid 6 in closed position, said fasteners 8being of a well known type commonly used on suitcases and the like. Thelid 6 may be provided with a suitable handle 9 by means of which the kitis carried.

The body 5 is divided into a plurality of compartments by means ofremovable vertical transverse partitions I slidably engaged betweenopposed palrs of spaced angle iron guides II se cured to the front andrear walls of the body 5.

Removably positioned in each of the compartments of the body is aThermos food container including an outer metallic shell I2 within whichis disposed a vacuum receptacle I3 of double wall 2 construction. At thetop, the shell I2 is provided with a removable internal ange I 4arranged to seat in a rabbet I5 provided in the upper edge of thereceptacle I3, the latter being yieldingly urged upwardly intoengagement with the flange I4 by means of a helical compression springI6 interposed between the bottom of the shell I2 and the receptacle I3.Suitable cushions I1 may be interposed between the bottom of the body 5and the bottom of each shell l2. Each food container further includes aremovable cover I8 for the receptacle I3 and adapted to seat upon asuitable gasket I9 provided upon an internal shoulder 2D formed withinthe upper portion of the receptacle I3, Means is provided for lockingthe cover I8 in position to close its receptacle I3, which meanspreferably consists of a pair of opposed sliding locking bolts 2imounted in the cover and yieldingly projected by a spring 22 so as toengage at their outer ends in keeper sockets 23 provided in the wall ofreceptacle i3 above the shoulder 20. At their lnner ends, the lockingbolts ZI are provided with upwardly projecting nger pieces 2li betweenwhich the spring 22 is arranged, said finger pieces being movable in arecess 25 provided in the top of the cover I8. By pressing the fingerpieces 24 toward each other and compressing the spring 22, the lockingbolts 2l are retracted so as to release them and permit removal of thecover. As shown more clearly in Figure 1, the covers I8 are of thevacuum double Wall type and are preferably made, along with thereceptacles I3, of glass or equivalent material.

In the curved top of the lid 6 is placed a Thermos bottle 26 which isheld in place by a resilient hinged strap 21 releasably engaged at 28with the lid. The finger pieces 24 project upwardly so as to becontacted by the Thermos bottle 26 or the strap 21 when the lid 6 isclosed, thereby effectively retaining the 'Ihermos containers in placeand down against the cushions I1. Suitable clips 29 may also be providedwithin the lid 6 for releasably holding utensils such as a spoon 3U, aknife 3| and a fork 32, as well as salt and pepper shakers 33.

From the foregoing description, it is believed that the construction andmanner of use, as well as the advantages of the present invention, willbe readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art. Itwill be seen that when the lunch kit is assembled and the box is closed,the Thermos containers are effectively held in place and will properlyconserve heat or cold so as to maintain the foods in proper condition.

Minor changes in details of construction illustrated and described maybe resorted to, such as fairly fall within the spirit and scope of theinvention as. claimed.

What I claim is:

In a lunch kit, a lunch box including a rectangular body portion and ahollow relatively deep lid hinged to said body portion and having meansto secure it in closed position, a plurality of 'I'hermos foodcontainers removably tted in the body portion and including removablecovers provided with spring-projected locking bolts for locking the samein closed position, said locking bolts having vspaced upstanding fingerpieces for retracting the same, and a Thermos bottle firmly removablystrapped in the lid, the Thermos bottle contacting said nger pieces tohold the Thermos containers down in position within the body portionwhen the lid is secured in closed position.

THOMAS SILVA.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,730,403 Boland Oct. 8, 19291,831,663 Hill Nov. 10, 1931 1,196,380 Moffett Aug. 29, 1916 426,844Murray et al Apr. 29, 1890 1,892,743 Wenger Jan. 3,1933 2,339,580 ParkJan.1a,1944

